Who: North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
Where and when: Etihad Stadium, Friday April 14, 4:20pm EST
TV and radio: Broadcast guide
Tickets: Purchase tickets
Storyline
It’s been a long time coming, and the first ever match of AFL football on Good Friday has finally arrived.
A bumper crowd is expected to watch North and the Bulldogs go head to head at Etihad Stadium, with both teams looking to bounce back from their respective losses last week.
For North, it’s a chance to kick start its season and receive reward for effort. The first three weeks against finals calibre opponents have seen promising signs, but no premiership points just yet.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs flew home from Domain Stadium with their first loss of 2017, defeated by a Fremantle team whose pressure around the contest was impressive.
Hot topics
The effect of pressure
The Bulldogs’ premiership was built on manic pressure around the ball, and as a result other sides have attempted to replicate a similar game style this season.
Last week Fremantle arguably showed a blueprint on how to beat the Bulldogs at their own game.
North could opt to go down that route, and it also has the benefit of its tall timber up forward to call on as an extra dimension.
Last season it was Jarrad Waite who essentially won the game for North in Round 6 against the Bulldogs.
Then in Round 20, Waite was unavailable and Ben Brown left the field injured early. On that evening North was unable to find a route to goal often enough to beat the Bulldogs.
The tall defenders
With Scott Thompson’s inclusion into the side, likely to face off against Jake Stringer, it leaves Robbie Tarrant to play on Travis Cloke.
In the first three weeks, opposition key forwards have been able to kick multiple goals to lead their sides.
If it happens once again, it’ll be tough for North to walk away with Etihad Stadium with the four premiership points.
Fighting it out
Both sides faded away in the final quarter of their Round 3 clashes. GWS kicked six goals to two against the Roos, while Fremantle kicked five unanswered against the Bulldogs.
With North and the Dogs both coming into the Good Friday clash off six day breaks and returning from interstate trips, the side which finishes the stronger may be the victor.
The burning questions
Will it be another low scoring game?
In recent times, North and the Bulldogs have played out tight encounters. But the change in personnel since last season may lead to a different looking game on Friday.
How will the six day breaks affect both sides?
Both sides played interstate on Saturday in Round 3, although the Bulldogs were in Perth compared to North in Hobart.
Can North finish the game strongly?
In each of the first three rounds, North has struggled to run the game out. They’ll need to do so on Friday against a quality opponent.
Teams
North Melbourne
B: Marley Williams, Robbie Tarrant, Luke McDonald
HB: Lachlan Hansen, Scott Thompson, Aaron Mullett
C: Taylor Garner, Trent Dumont, Kayne Turner
HF: Jamie Macmillan, Ben Brown, Ben Cunnington
F: Jy Simpkin, Lindsay Thomas, Nathan Hrovat
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Jack Ziebell, Shaun Higgins
Int: Andrew Swallow, Shaun Atley, Braydon Preuss, Sam Gibson
Emer: Ryan Clarke, Ed Vickers-Willis, Corey Wagner
In: Scott Thompson, Jy Simpkin
Out: Sam Durdin, Ryan Clarke (both omitted)
Western Bulldogs
B: Marcus Adams, Fletcher Roberts, Jason Johanissen
HB: Matthew Suckling, Easton Wood, Robert Murphy
C: Lachie Hunter, Luke Dahlhaus, Matthew Boyd
HF: Josh Dunkley, Travis Cloke, Jake Stringer
F: Lin Jong, Tom Boyd, Liam Picken
Fol: Tom Campbell, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore
Int: Jack Macrae, Zaine Cordy, Clay Smith, Toby McLean
Emer: Shane Biggs, Bailey Williams, Caleb Daniel
In: Josh Dunkley, Clay Smith
Out: Shane Biggs, Caleb Daniel (both omitted)
